arXiv subjects

C. Carretero

Publications and source records attributed to C. Carretero.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2019

A journey into the tuneable antiferromagnetic spin textures of BiFeO3

Antiferromagnetic thin films are currently generating considerable excitement for low dissipation magnonics and spintronics. However, while tuneable antiferromagnetic textures form the backbone of functional devices, they are virtually unknown at the submicron scale. Here we image a wide variety of antiferromagnetic spin textures in multiferroic BiFeO3 thin films that can be tuned by strain and manipulated by electric fields through room temperature magnetoelectric coupling. Using piezoresponse force microscopy and scanning NV magnetometry in self-organized ferroelectric patterns of BiFeO3, we reveal how strain stabilizes different types of non-collinear antiferromagnetic states (bulk-like and exotic spin cycloids) as well as collinear antiferromagnetic textures. Beyond these local-scale observations, resonant elastic X-ray scattering confirms the existence of both types of spin cycloids. Finally, we show that electric-field control of the ferroelectric landscape induces transitions either between collinear and non-collinear states or between different cycloids, offering perspectives for the design of reconfigurable antiferromagnetic spin textures on demand.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Strain and Magnetic Field Induced Spin-Structure Transitions in Multiferroic BiFeO3

The magnetic-field-dependent spin ordering of strained BiFeO3 films is determined using nuclear resonant scattering and Raman spectroscopy. The critical field required to destroy the cycloidal modulation of the Fe spins is found to be significantly lower than in the bulk, with appealing implications for field-controlled spintronic and magnonic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Depth profiling charge accumulation from a ferroelectric into a doped Mott insulator

The electric field control of functional properties is a crucial goal in oxide-based electronics. Non-volatile switching between different resistivity or magnetic states in an oxide channel can be achieved through charge accumulation or depletion from an adjacent ferroelectric. However, the way in which charge distributes near the interface between the ferroelectric and the oxide remains poorly known, which limits our understanding of such switching effects. Here we use a first-of-a-kind combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy with electron energy loss spectroscopy, near-total-reflection hard X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, and ab-initio theory to address this issue. We achieve a direct, quantitative, atomic-scale characterization of the polarization-induced charge density changes at the interface between the ferroelectric BiFeO3 and the doped Mott insulator Ca1-xCexMnO3, thus providing insight on how interface-engineering can enhance these switching effects.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Large elasto-optic effect and reversible electrochromism in multiferroic BiFeO3

The control of optical fields is usually achieved through the electro-optic or acousto-optic effect in single-crystal ferroelectric or polar compounds such as LiNbO3 or quartz. In recent years, tremendous progress has been made in ferroelectric oxide thin film technology - a field which is now a strong driving force in areas such as electronics, spintronics and photovoltaics. Here, we apply epitaxial strain engineering to tune the optical response of BiFeO3 thin films, and find a very large variation of the optical index with strain, corresponding to an effective elasto-optic coefficient larger than that of quartz. We observe a concomitant strain-driven variation in light absorption - reminiscent of piezochromism - which we show can be manipulated by an electric field. This constitutes an electrochromic effect that is reversible, remanent and not driven by defects. These findings broaden the potential of multiferroics towards photonics and thin film acousto-optic devices, and suggest exciting device opportunities arising from the coupling of ferroic, piezoelectric and optical responses.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2009

Towards two-dimensional metallic behavior at LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interfaces

Using a low-temperature conductive-tip atomic force microscope in cross-section geometry we have characterized the local transport properties of the metallic electron gas that forms at the interface between LaAlO3 and SrTiO3. At low temperature, we find that the carriers do not spread away from the interface but are confined within ~10 nm, just like at room temperature. Simulations taking into account both the large temperature and electric-field dependence of the permittivity of SrTiO3 predict a confinement over a few nm for sheet carrier densities larger than ~6 10^13 cm-2. We discuss the experimental and simulations results in terms of a multi-band carrier system. Remarkably, the Fermi wavelength estimated from Hall measurements is ~16 nm, indicating that the electron gas in on the verge of two-dimensionality.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2008

Probing IGM large-scale flows: warps in galaxies at shells of voids

CONTEXT. Hydrodynamical cosmological simulations predict flows of the intergalactic medium along the radial vector of the voids, approximately in the direction of the infall of matter at the early stages of the galaxy formation. AIMS. These flows might be detected by analysing the dependence of the warp amplitude on the inclination of the galaxies at the shells of the voids with respect to the radial vector of the voids. This analysis will be the topic of this paper. METHODS. We develop a statistical method of analysing the correlation of the amplitude of the warp and the inclination of the galaxy at the void surface. This is applied to a sample of 97 edge-on galaxies from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Our results are compared with the theoretical expectations, which are also derived in this paper. RESULTS. Our results allow us to reject the null hypothesis (i.e., the non-correlation of the warp amplitude and the inclination of the galaxy with respect to the void surface) at 94.4% C. L., which is not conclusive. The absence of the radial flows cannot be excluded at present, although we can put a constraint on the maximum average density of baryonic matter of the radial flows of <~ 4 Omega_b rho_crit.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Mapping the Spatial Distribution of Charge Carriers in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures

At the interface between complex insulating oxides, novel phases with interesting properties may occur, such as the metallic state reported in the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 system. While this state has been predicted and reported to be confined at the interface, some works indicate a much broader spatial extension, thereby questioning its origin. Here we provide for the first time a direct determination of the carrier density profile of this system through resistance profile mappings collected in cross-section LaAlO3/SrTiO3 samples with a conducting-tip atomic force microscope (CT-AFM). We find that, depending upon specific growth protocols, the spatial extension of the high-mobility electron gas can be varied from hundreds of microns into SrTiO3 to a few nanometers next to the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface. Our results emphasize the potential of CT-AFM as a novel tool to characterize complex oxide interfaces and provide us with a definitive and conclusive way to reconcile the body of experimental data in this system.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

High Mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Heterostructures: Origin, Dimensionality and Perspectives

We have investigated the dimensionality and origin of the magnetotransport properties of LaAlO3 films epitaxially grown on TiO2-terminated SrTiO3(001) substrates. High mobility conduction is observed at low deposition oxygen pressures (PO2 < 10^-5 mbar) and has a three-dimensional character. However, at higher PO2 the conduction is dramatically suppressed and nonmetallic behavior appears. Experimental data strongly support an interpretation of these properties based on the creation of oxygen vacancies in the SrTiO3 substrates during the growth of the LaAlO3 layer. When grown on SrTiO3 substrates at low PO2, other oxides generate the same high mobility as LaAlO3 films. This opens interesting prospects for all-oxide electronics.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2007

Chemical clocks for early-type galaxies

We present a detailed stellar population analysis of 27 massive elliptical galaxies within 4 very rich clusters at redshift z~0.2. We obtained accurate estimates of the mean luminosity-weighted ages and relative abundances of CN, Mg and Fe as functions of the galaxy velocity dispersion, sigma. Our results are compatible with a scenario in which the stellar populations of massive elliptical galaxies, independently of their environment and mass, had formation timescales shorter than ~1 Gyr. This result implies that massive elliptical galaxies have evolved passively since, at least, as long ago as z~2. For a given galaxy mass the duration of star formation is shorter in those galaxies belonging to more dense environments. Finally, we show that the abundance ratios [CN/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] are the key "chemical clocks" to infer the star formation history timescales in ellipticals. In particular, [Mg/Fe] provides an upper limit for those formation timescales, while [CN/Fe] apperars to be the most suitable parameter to resolve them in elliptical galaxies with sigma<300 km/s.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Stellar populations of massive elliptical galaxies in very rich clusters

We present a detailed stellar population analysis of 27 massive elliptical galaxies within 4 very rich clusters at redshift z~0.2: A115, A655, A963 and A2111. Using the new, high-resolution stellar populations models developed in our group, we obtained accurate estimates of the mean luminosity-weighted ages and relative abundances of CN, Mg and Fe. We have found that [CN/H] and [Mg/H] are correlated with sigma while [Fe/H] and Log(age) are not. In addition, both abundance ratios [CN/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] increase with sigma. Furthermore, the [CN/H]-sigma and [CN/Fe]-sigma slopes are steeper for galaxies in very rich clusters than those in the less dense Virgo and Coma clusters. On the other hand, [Mg/H]-sigma and [Mg/Fe]-sigma slopes keep constant as functions of the environment. Our results are compatible with a scenario in which the stellar populations of massive elliptical galaxies, independently of their environment and mass, had formation timescales shorter than ~1 Gyr. This result implies that massive elliptical galaxies have evolved passively since, at least, as long ago as z~2. For a given galaxy mass the duration of star formation is shorter in those galaxies belonging to more dense environments; whereas the mass-metallicity relation appears to be also a function of the cluster properties: the denser the environment is, the steeper are the correlations. Finally, we show that the abundance ratios [CN/Fe] and [Mg/Fe] are the key "chemical clocks" to infer the star formation history timescales in ellipticals. In particular, [Mg/Fe] provides an upper limit for those formation timescales, while [CN/Fe] apperars to be the most suitable parameter to resolve them in elliptical galaxies with sigma<300 km/s.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

CGCG 480-022: A distant lonesome merger?

We present a complete analysis, which includes morphology, kinematics, stellar populations and N-body simulations of CGCG 480-022, the most distant (cz=14317 km/s) isolated galaxy studied so far in such detail. The results all support the hypothesis that this galaxy has suffered a major merger event with a companion of ~0.1 times its mass. Morphology reveals the presence of a circumnuclear ring and possibly further ring debris. The radial velocity curve looks symmetrical, whilst the velocity dispersion increases with radius reaching values that do not correspond to a virialized system. Moreover, this galaxy deviates significantly from the Fundamental Plane and the Faber-Jackson relation. The stellar population analysis show that the ring is younger and more metal-rich, which suggest that it has undergone a fairly recent burst of star formation. Both morphological and dynamical results are in broad agreeement with our N-body simulations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Origin and Perspectives of High Mobility in LaAlO3/SrTiO3 Structures

LaAlO3/SrTiO3 structures showing high mobility conduction have recently aroused large expectations as they might represent a major step towards the conception of all-oxide electronics devices. For the development of these technological applications a full understanding of the dimensionality and origin of the conducting electronic system is crucial. To shed light on this issue, we have investigated the magnetotransport properties of a LaAlO3 layer epitaxially grown at low oxygen pressure on a TiO2-terminated (001)-SrTiO3 substrate. In agreement with recent reports, a low-temperature mobility of about 10^4 cm2/Vs has been found. We conclusively show that the electronic system is three-dimensional, excluding any interfacial confinement of carriers. We argue that the high-mobility conduction originates from the doping of SrTiO3 with oxygen vacancies and that it extends over hundreds of microns into the SrTiO3 substrate. Such high mobility SrTiO3-based heterostructures have a unique potential for electronic and spintronics devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Electronic conductivity and structural distortion at the interface between insulators SrTiO3 and LaAlO3

When insulator LaAlO3 is grown by epitaxy onto a TiO2-terminated {100} surface of insulator SrTiO3, the resulting system has a metallic character. This phenomenon has been associated with an electrostatic frustration at the interface, as {100} surfaces of SrTiO3 are neutral while those of LaAlO3 are polar, but its microscopic mechanism is not quite understood. Here, we present a structural characterisation of this interface by aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy. The unit cells at the interface appear elongated: we discuss this distortion in terms of electrostatic charge and extra carriers at the interface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2004

On the Environmental Dependence of Cluster Galaxy Assembly Timescale

We present estimates of CN and Mg overabundances with respect to Fe for early-type galaxies in 8 clusters over a range of richness and morphology. Spectra were taken from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) DR1, and from WHT and CAHA observations. Abundances were derived from absorption lines and single burst population models, by comparing galaxy spectra with appropriately broadened synthetic model spectra. We detect correlations between [Mg/CN] and [CN/Fe] and cluster X-ray luminosity. No correlation is observed for [Mg/Fe]. We also see a clear trend with the richness and morphology of the clusters. This is interpreted given varying formation timescales for CN, Mg and Fe, and a varying star formation history in early-type galaxies as a function of their environment: intermediate-mass early-type galaxies in more massive clusters are assembled on shorter timescales than in less massive clusters, with an upper limit of ~1 Gyr.

astro-ph↗